Barrons Create Scholarships For College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, Donate To Arboreteum

Eric and Molly Barron have committed $150,000 to the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and the Arboretum to create two $50,000 trustee scholarships and name the Bedrock Boulders collection in the Arboretum’s Children’s Garden.

Until June 30, Penn State is providing an annual 10 percent match if the gift is worth $50,000 or more to continue in perpetuity, bolstering the Barrons’ gift.

The Barrons named the pair of scholarships after the couple’s parents, Jim and "Mel" Barron, and Walin and Dorothy Hatter. The Bedrock Boulders collection will be located at the entrance to the Children’s Garden once it is finished, and will represent the geographic landscape of central Pennsylvania.

“Philanthropy is one of the main reasons why Penn State is such a great institution, and we thought it was only right to build upon this tradition when we returned,” says Eric Barron in a news release. “Molly and I are both keenly interested in ensuring that education is accessible. The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and the Arboretum serve as great starting points to promote accessibility and for the many other ways we hope to make an impact at this University in the future.”

Barron was dean of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences from 2002-06 and former co-workers were excited to have him back when he left Florida State.

The Barron's donation is the second significant donation to come out of the president’s office in the last few months. Former president Rodney Erickson and his wife Shari gave $1 million to For the Future before turning over the reins.

After weeks of speculation, multiple sources have confirmed that the Gingerbread Man will close its doors this summer to make way for the iconic Pittsburgh sandwich shop and bar franchise Primanti Bros.

G-Man has fired most of its non-salaried staff and plans to close after Arts Fest, sources say. The decision to close is multifaceted; G-Man is currently operating on a conditional liquor lic